St Catherine Laboure

St. Catherine Labouré
Holiday Home - Knock, Co. Mayo

Tel: 094 9388262 or Fax: 094 9388230 or E-Mail: stcatherinelaboure@eircom.net

St. Vincent de Paul Society
The St. Catherine Labouré Holiday Home at Knock was built by the
Saint Vincent de Paul Society to provide holidays for senior citizens.

Open: Easter to October and Christmas

Lourdes - Laus - Loreto - Pompeii - Assisi - Bari - Monte San' Angelo - San Giovanni Rotondo
Statue of Our Lady of LoretoOur Lady of Loreto
Born: date unknown, celebrated September 8
Died: assumed, celebrated August 15
Canonized: the day she was assumed
Feast Day: December 12
Patron Saint of: aviators

She is the patron saint of pilots, airmen and flight attendants as per the declaration of Pope Benedict XV on March 24, 1920. The pontiff approved a special blessing: "O merciful God, You have consecrated the house of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the mystery of the Word Incarnate and placed it in the midst of your children. Pour forth your blessing on this vehicle so that those who take an aerial trip in it may happily reach their destination and return safely home under Mary's protection".
The reference to the Holy House is what constitutes the reason and fame of Our Lady of Loreto. According to ancient tradition, the Holy House--that of Mary and Jesus, where the Word of God became flesh--arrived by sky or sea, we don't know, on the hill of Loreto at the end of the 13th century. It reached Loreto, Italy after a brief stay at Tersato, Dalmatia, 1291, and landed 1294 at a location called Recanati (today's Loreto) in a wooded area belonging to a nobleman named Loreta.
It was this flight that led to her patronage of people involved in aviation, and the long life of the house that has led to the patronage of builders, construction workers, etc. The dimensions of the House of Loreto are identical to those of the House of the Holy Family that is missing from its enshrinement place at the Nazareth Basilica. Bas-reliefs of the 16th c suggest transport of the Holy House by sea.
Our Lady's House
Our Lady's House
The Church of St. Mary of Loreto was first mentioned in 1315. Construction of a large church is cited in 1468. In 1586, Loreto was granted city status and the church was raised to a cathedral, only to become a basilica in 1728. It has been an episcopal cathedral since 1965.
The interior of Our Lady's House
The interior of Our Lady's House
 Popes have always held the Shrine of Loreto in special esteem, and it is under their direct authority and protection.
Loreto is one of the most famous Marian shrines in Italy and was the first shrine of international renown dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. It has been known as a Marian center for centuries and is a worldwide center of Marian prayer (Litany of Loreto), celebrating the "ineffable mystery of the Incarnation of the Word" (John Paul II) and inviting all Christian families to take as their model the Family of Nazareth.
The Involvement of the Angeli Family (from KIRCHE heute--Aufbruch der Kirche in eine neue Zeit. Monatszeitschrift fur die katholische Kirche im deutschen Sprachraum. May 19th 2004)
Contrary to the legend that angels brought the Holy House to Loreto there exists another more scientific theory. According to Papal archivist Guiseppe Lapponi, a family by the name of Angeli might have been instrumental in the transfer of the house. Lapponi related this confidential information on May 17, 1900 to Bishop Landrieux of Dijon. His findings reveal that the Angeli family is a descendent of the Emperor of Constantinople. Chronologically the facts comply with the possibility that in 1291 this family saved the bricks of the Holy House from the Muslim invasion. This information can be found on page 181 of the collection Chartularium Culinanense.
The Altar in Our Lady's House
The Altar in Our Lady's House
Allegedly, in 1294, Niceforo Angeli sent the bricks to Italy as a wedding gift for his daughter Ithamar (or Margherita). Ithamar's wedding to Philip of Angio son of Charles II, King of Naples, took place in October, 1294. The arrival of the Holy House dates to December10, 1294. During recent excavations beneath the House of Loreto, several hundred coins have been found two, of which are connected to the Angeli family, referring to the transfer of the House of Loreto.
Floral rule

The Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto
The Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto

Aerial view of the Basilica
Aerial view of the Basilica

Link to the official website for Our Lady of Loreto

Lord bless my online friends

Other place of pilgrimage worldwide

St Catherine Laboure Holiday Home, Knock, County Mayo, Ireland. e-mail: stcatherinelaboure@eircom.net
Tel Ireland: 094 9388262 - Fax Ireland: 094 9388230 - Tel International: +353 949388262 - Fax: international: +353 949388230